Xavi last week claimed Arsenal captain Fabregas had told him he was "suffering" because of his desire to join the Catalan club.

That provoked the ire of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who accused Xavi of being disrespectful, but the Spain international insists he did not mean to upset anyone and felt he was acting in the best interests of Fabregas and Barcelona.

"I'm sorry. My intention was not to offend Arsenal and Wenger," Xavi said at a press conference today.

"We know that Cesc has this desire to come and I said that he was suffering. But I don't want to offend either Wenger or Arsenal. I was only looking out for the interests of Cesc and Barca.

"The controversy seems absurd to me. I don't want to get into a war of words with Wenger."

Barca have long been linked with their former youth product Fabregas and saw their efforts to sign the Gunners skipper rebuffed last summer.

The European champions have resumed their bid this summer, and yesterday Barca coach Pep Guardiola revealed that Arsenal had agreed to negotiate for the 24-year-old.

Xavi said today: "It seems this year they are more disposed to sell than in previous years and therefore you need to be more optimistic, but everything depends on an agreement because, obviously, he is an Arsenal player and he has a contract."